The Youth In Transition crew along with some extras recently joined for a learning experience in the Coromandel at the beautiful Mahamudra centre. The stress and worries of Auckland felt a long way away and the friendly volunteers made for a beautiful weekend.

We are very excited to let you know that we are getting ready to launch our new youth mentoring programme – Coast Mentoring! We know there are a number of young Coasties out there who could do with a mentor to support them on their journey. That’s why CYC Trust and Youth In Transition have teamed up to introduce this programme to our community.

We are thrilled to share the news that our Director and Co-Founder, Tina Jones, is a recipient of the 2020 National Lifekeepers Awards for outstanding suicide prevention work in the community. The LifeKeepers Awards are designed to recognise the often heroic but unacknowledged commitment of individuals like Tina, who persevere with efforts and work which make a vital contribution to suicide prevention.

We are very excited to let you know that we are now close to the launch of our new youth mentoring programme – Coast Mentoring! Coast Mentoring will connect young Coasties with an adult Coastie mentor – we are all about “Coasties mentoring Coasties.”

Since lockdown ended, we have had well over 50 new referrals for our services, and the number continues to climb as the longer-term impact of the situation comes into play.

The Hope Shop is currently running a RAFFLE to help raise funds for the Mentoring Programme. To buy tickets, please pop into the Shop or the Youth In Transition offices, both in Manly.

One of our fabulous Trustees, Merv Huxford, recently turned a personal challenge into a fundraising opportunity for Youth In Transition.

Before lockdown, we had plans to add a new counselling room, and with the huge increase in referrals this became top priority once contractors were allowed back into the building. We are thrilled with the result and we are indebted to everyone who contributed time and materials to make this happen!

It really is tremendous to experience all of this community love and support!

Jess Dyson was our guest speaker in July. Jess holds a Bachelor of Social Work and is currently completing a post graduate study in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. She has completed specialised training in a number of Eating Disorder treatments and trainings around body image.

We have some very talented young artists in the group who were keen to personalise and create art work for YIT. It was the groups decision to paint art pieces that would create, not only a calming visual effect in this space, but, encourage discussion and inspiration in therapy sessions.

What a wonderful journey it has been over the past year! When we first opened last July, we were a ‘pop up shop’, and never imagined that we would still be here 12 months later! We are so grateful for the support, enthusiasm and love shown by our Hope Shop community.

The recent Golf Fore Life fundraiser at Titirangi Golf club was one of our most successful fund-raising events yet!

We are extremely grateful for the commitment and dedication of our volunteers particularly in these hard times, who collectively give hundreds of hours each week to us in their various roles.

Thank you to our local branch of charity Love Soup. Thank you to founder Julie and her team who have delivered, with much love, much needed food parcels for our young people and their families.

You have been on our minds these past few weeks. We know that you will all have been focused on your own changing situations and getting used to a new way of living.

A chance for our supporters to join an exciting evening of music, art, dance and food, overlooking the harbour, whilst raising awareness of the success we are achieving in helping save young lives through our unique Journey back to Awesome Programme!

Thank you Pinc for the design and print of our fabulous new leaflets.

A big thank you to Michelle & Nigel at Tree Solutions for running such a successful fundraiser at the start of January.

We are delighted to announce the Golf ‘Fore’ Life Tournament which is being held at Titirangi Golf Club on Tuesday 10th March this year. The tournament aims to raise money for Youth In Transition, enabling us to take on a much needed additional counsellor.